James "Jimmy" O'Bryan Jr. (born June 7, 1956 in

Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands Saint Thomas ( da, Sankt Thomas) is one of the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Sea which, together with Saint John, Water Island, Hassel Island, and Saint Croix, form a county-equivalent and constituent district of the United States Virgin ...

) is a United States Virgin Islander

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

spokesman A spokesperson, spokesman, or spokeswoman, is someone engaged or elected to speak on behalf of others. Duties and function In the present media-sensitive world, many organizations are increasingly likely to employ professionals who have receiv ...

and former press secretary. He previously served as the Administrator of the island of

. O'Bryan was a

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

candidate for Governor of the United States Virgin Islands in the 2010 gubernatorial election. His running mate for Lt. Governor was

Pamela Richards Samuel Pamela C. Richards Samuel (born 1959) is a U.S. Virgin Islander politician. Most recently, Richards Samuel was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands in the 2010 election as the running mate of Democratic guberna ...

Biography

Early life

O'Bryan is a native of Saint Thomas, where he was born on June 7, 1956, to James A. O’Bryan Sr. and Elsa D. Oliver O’Bryan. He graduated from Charlotte Amalie High School in Charlotte Amalie in 1974 and was president of his class. O'Bryan went on to receive a

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

mass communications Mass communication is the process of imparting and exchanging information through mass media to large segments of the population. It is usually understood for relating to various forms of media, as its technologies are used for the dissemination o ...

and

political science Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and la ...

from

Boston University Boston University (BU) is a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. The university is nonsectarian, but has a historical affiliation with the United Methodist Church. It was founded in 1839 by Methodists with its original campu ...

in 1978.

Political career

O'Bryan previously served as a

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

in the Legislature of the Virgin Islands's 16th Legislature (1985–1986) for one term in office. He also served as the chairman of the Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands for two terms. He was appointed as the press secretary for former Governor Alexander A. Farrelly. O'Bryan was extremely active during the administration of former Governor Charles Turnbull. O'Bryan headed the Turnbull administration's Office of Public Relations, serving as Turnbull's spokesperson during his first term. He also chaired a Turnbull-created task force which worked to remove abandoned

vehicles A vehicle (from la, vehiculum) is a machine that transports people or cargo. Vehicles include wagons, bicycles, motor vehicles (motorcycles, cars, trucks, buses, mobility scooters for disabled people), railed vehicles (trains, trams), wate ...

and other garbage from Saint Thomas. In April 2003, the Turnbull administration appointed O'Bryan as head of the committee charged with rebuilding the Sanderilla Thomas Bungalow at Rothschild Francis "Market" Square on the island of Saint Thomas. He also served as the president of Virgin Islanders for Responsive Government. On April 29, 2003, Governor Charles Turnbull appointed O'Bryan as the Administrator of St. Thomas and Water Island. O'Bryan succeeded Louis Hill as administrator. Hill resigned in January 2003 to take office as a Senator in the Legislature. O'Bryan was working as the assistant to the governor for public affairs and policy initiatives at the time of his appointment as Administrator of Saint Thomas and Water Island. In 2010, O'Bryan left his morning slot on

WDHP WDHP (1620 AM) is a radio station licensed to serve Frederiksted, U.S. Virgin Islands. The station is owned by Reef Broadcasting, Inc. It airs a variety of news, talk, gospel music, and country music Country (also called country and wester ...

(1620 AM), a local radio station, to pursue a gubernatorial campaign.

2010 candidacy for governor

O'Bryan announced his candidacy for Governor of the United States Virgin Islands as a member of the

in the 2010 gubernatorial election. His

running mate A running mate is a person running together with another person on a joint Ticket (election), ticket during an election. The term is most often used in reference to the person in the subordinate position (such as the vice presidential candidate ...

for Lt. Governor is

, the former U.S.V.I. Commissioner of

Tourism Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring (disambiguation), touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tour (disambiguation), tours. Th ...

. O'Bryan and Richards Samuel announced the launch of their campaign in an hour-long presentation on the WDHP radio station on August 17, 2010. He listed the top issues of their campaign platform as public safety,

education Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty. Va ...

health care Health care or healthcare is the improvement of health via the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, amelioration or cure of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in people. Health care is delivered by health profe ...

and

employment Employment is a relationship between two parties regulating the provision of paid labour services. Usually based on a contract, one party, the employer, which might be a corporation, a not-for-profit organization, a co-operative, or any othe ...

. O'Bryan faced incumbent Governor

John de Jongh John Percy de Jongh Jr. (born November 13, 1957) is an American businessman and politician who served as the Governor of the United States Virgin Islands from 2007 to 2015. He has been active in Virgin Islands politics and the business community ...

, Senator

Adlah Donastorg Adlah Alphonso "Foncie" Donastorg, Jr. (born December 30, 1961) is a U.S. Virgin Islander politician, who served as a Senator in the Legislature of the Virgin Islands for seven terms from January 1995 through January 2011. He was most recently a ...

and former Lt. Governor Gerard Luz James for the Democratic nomination in the

primary election Primary elections, or direct primary are a voting process by which voters can indicate their preference for their party's candidate, or a candidate in general, in an upcoming general election, local election, or by-election. Depending on the ...

on September 11, 2010. O'Bryan and Richards Samuel lost the Democratic gubernatorial primary election in 2010, placing fourth behind De Jongh, Donastorg and James. O'Bryan received 432 votes in the election, equalling approximately 3% of the total vote. O'Bryan told supporters and the media following the election, "The people have spoken, I respect their wishes, and I will go forward with this episode from now on." He would not say if he would endorse Governor John de Jongh, the winner of the primary, for a second term, explaining, "I’m going to listen to the rain tonight and think on it."

References

External links

James O'Bryan/Richards Samuel 2010 official campaign
{{DEFAULTSORT:OBryan, James Jr. 1956 births Living people Senators of the Legislature of the United States Virgin Islands Boston University alumni People from Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands politicians Boston University College of Communication alumni